Average annual tuition from KRW 2.53 million to KRW 6.09 million: five Seoul national, public and special-purpose universities differ from the admissions track onward

Among Seoul universities recruiting international students, five four-year institutions are national or public or have a clear educational purpose: Seoul National University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, the University of Seoul, Seoul National University of Education and Korea National Sport University. Their 2026 average annual undergraduate tuition ranges from about KRW 2.53 million at the University of Seoul to about KRW 6.09 million at Seoul National University.

They can be ranked in one line by price, but their actual choice structures differ greatly. Seoul National University and the University of Seoul have multiple colleges and separate undergraduate international-admissions tracks. Seoul National University of Science and Technology separately explains language requirements for engineering and technology fields and Korean-language and English tracks. The primary purposes of Seoul National University of Education and Korea National Sport University are elementary-teacher education and physical education, respectively.

Even among national and public institutions, the numbers mean different things

The University of Seoul has the lowest average tuition of the five. It had 725 international students and an 11.1% dormitory capacity rate. Seoul National University of Education, by contrast, had average tuition of about KRW 3.26 million and a high 58.8% dormitory capacity rate but only 6 international students. This is why the two cannot be compared by tuition or dormitories alone: their scale, educational purpose and international-admissions tracks differ.

Seoul National University and Seoul National University of Science and Technology had more than 1,000 international students, at 1,383 and 1,129 respectively. Both had a 22.7% dormitory capacity rate. A large international-student population does not mean dormitory places are allocated at the same rate, so actual admissions guides and residence-hall notices must be read separately.

Seoul National University has broad recruitment units and a clear admissions contact

Seoul National University's Admissions Office has posted guidance for undergraduate freshmen in the Spring 2027 Global Talent Special Admissions track. It is a track for applicants whose parents as well as the applicants themselves hold foreign nationality, and requires proof of high-school education and Korean or English proficiency. Recruitment units cover humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, arts and physical education.

Applications for Spring 2027 ran from July 6 through 9, 2026 and have already closed. The reason to read this guidance now is not merely to wait for the next application; it is the latest authoritative text for checking the units by which Seoul National University selects international undergraduate applicants and the language evidence it requires.

Seoul National University's 2026 average annual undergraduate tuition is about KRW 6.09 million. This is an institution-wide average across multiple majors. Actual amounts differ after admission in department billing for fields with differing fees, such as natural sciences, engineering, arts and physical education.

Seoul National University of Science and Technology distinguishes Korean-language programs and English tracks

The International Office at Seoul National University of Science and Technology announces two international undergraduate recruitment periods each for spring semester, in October and December, and fall semester, in March and June. The general Korean-language program sets TOPIK level 3 or completion of Korean-language education recognized by the university as its baseline. English tracks, including MSDE, ITM, management and global IT convergence, state TOEFL iBT 71 or IELTS 5.5 or above, and standards can differ by department.

It also publishes an application sequence from online application, original documents, document review and interview, financial documents and tuition payment to the Certificate of Admission and visa. The 2025 disclosure recorded 1,129 international students, and both admissions and residence information can be found through the International Office.

The 2026 average annual undergraduate tuition is about KRW 5.49 million: about KRW 600,000 lower than Seoul National University and about KRW 2.96 million higher than the University of Seoul. Actual billed amounts, however, differ depending on the English track or department applied to.

The University of Seoul links admissions guidance and living information through one international office

The University of Seoul International Office provides undergraduate international-admissions guidance for the 2027 academic year in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese. The same site also provides living information before and after entry, dormitory applications, exchange and visiting-student guidance, and buddy programs including SeoulMate.

Its clearly lowest 2026 average annual undergraduate tuition among the five, about KRW 2.53 million, is an advantage. At the same time, its dormitory capacity rate is the lowest, at 11.1%. The institution's actual budget emerges only when reduced tuition costs and potential housing costs are considered together.

At Seoul National University of Education and Korea National Sport University, the question of what kind of university it is comes first

Seoul National University of Education is a university of education that trains elementary-school teachers. Its average annual undergraduate tuition is about KRW 3.26 million and its dormitory capacity is 58.8%. Those figures stand out for cost and housing, but it had 6 international students. Rather than a structure in which one chooses among many majors as at a comprehensive university, the institution's purpose of teacher education is the starting point of choice.

The same is true of Korea National Sport University. Its average annual undergraduate tuition is about KRW 3.86 million, dormitory capacity is 37.4%, and it had 11 international students. Its admissions guidance links international admissions and the 2027 plan, but admissions in sports fields require checking the sport, program and practical-skill and career requirements together.

Seoul's five national, public and special-purpose institutions cannot be grouped in one sentence as "universities with relatively low tuition." Seoul National University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology and the University of Seoul have substantial undergraduate international-admissions and international-student support systems, whereas fit with the specialized purpose of Seoul National University of Education and Korea National Sport University comes first. The tuition table starts the narrowing of candidates; final choice depends on recruitment units, language requirements, actual department billing and a housing plan.

Data and method

Tuition uses the average for main-campus undergraduate students in the 2026 academic year from the Korea Student Aid Foundation's Average Tuition Information by University Nationwide, rounded to the ten-thousand-won unit. International-student counts and dormitory capacity are University Alimi's 2025 institution and campus disclosures. The international-student count is the disclosure value for the relevant institution, not the population living in Seoul, and dormitory capacity is based on all enrolled students. Admissions information was checked on the official page of each university on August 10, 2026.